Search form

Search

To J. B. Innes 29 May [1871]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

May 29th

My dear Innes

I have been very glad to receive your pleasant letter; for to tell you the truth, I have sometimes wondered whether you would not think me an outcast & a reprobate after the publication of my last book.—2 I do not wonder at all at your not agreeing with me, for a good many professed naturalists do not. Yet when I see in how extraordinary a manner the judgment of naturalists has changed since I published the Origin,3 I feel convinced that there will be in ten years quite as much unanimity about man, as far as his corporeal frame is concerned.—

Anyhow my views do not lead me to such conclusions about negros & slavery as yours do: I consider myself a good way ahead of you, as far as this goes.—4

Thanks for the very curious story about the dog & mutton chops. They are wonderful animals, & deserve to be loved with all one’s heart, even when they do steal mutton-chops.—

I am very sorry that you have been compelled to give up your farm, for I am sure it must have been a great amusement, & that you would have managed it very well.—

I have seen no one for a long time & heard no news of Mr Powell.—5 The Friendly Club, which flourishes, meets tomorrow & I shall read aloud the accounts on my lawn in the usual way.—6

You proved right about Mr. Horsman, & I never heard a word more from or about him; so I return all the documents, which you were so very kind as to send me, & which I shd. think it would be worth while to keep for some years, in case the scamp shd. again turn up.—7

Summary

Not surprised that JBI does not agree with him. Many professed naturalists do not. But there has been a great change since publication of Origin, and CD believes agreement on man will come soon, "as far as his corporeal frame is concerned".